REVISED SCENE 3: Yoda Escapes Kashyyyk
Introduction: In the film, there was very little drama to Yoda's escape from Kashyyyk. It's possible that the scene as filmed was the victim of budget constraints. As a writer, I'm not constrained by production budgets and try to get as much as I can out of every scene. The scenes below take place around the 1:25:45 mark of the film and were written to strike a similar tone to the Millennium Falcon's escape from both Bespin and Hoth.
EXT. KASHYYYK - GREAT TREE - LANDING PLATFORM; LATE EVENING
Yoda, Chewbacca and Tarfful have battled their way to a landing platform high up on one of the gigantic Wookiee tree cities. A transport ship sits idle on the landing platform; their last means of escape. Clone Troopers follow behind, shooting at them. Yoda and the Wookiees enter the ship.
INT. WOOKIEE SHIP - COCKPIT
Chewbacca and Tarfful man the controls of the ship and power it up. Yoda jumps into a nearby passenger seat which is clearly much too large for his body frame.
YODA
Away we must go.
The ship begins to whine.
EXT. KASHYYYK - GREAT TREE - LANDING PLATFORM
The ship lifts off from the landing platform. Clone troopers continue to shoot at it as it rises up into the sky and accelerates away.
- LATER -
EXT. SPACE - NEAR KASHYYYK
A Republic Star Destroyer chases the Wookiee ship as it speeds away from the planet. The destroyer fires on the smaller ship, hitting it in the rear quarter.
INT. WOOKIEE SHIP - COCKPIT
Sparks fly from a panel above Chewbacca. The Wookiee growls and raises his hands over his head in frustration. He does not sound pleased. Yoda understands the situation and considers his options.
YODA
If disabled the hyperdrive is, back to Kashyyyk
you must go. Away from me, lead them.
Tarfful says something to Yoda in the Wookiee language. Yoda nods.
YODA
Agree with your plan, I do.
(or)
With your plan, agree I do.
Yoda hops down from his seat. Both Chewbacca and Tarfful look back at him and offer their blessings, in one form or another.
YODA
Goodbye Tarfful. Goodbye Chewbacca.
Remember you, I will.
Yoda walks out of the bridge and reaches an escape pod.
EXT. SPACE - NEAR KASHYYYK
As the Wookiee ship arcs back towards the planet, several escape pods shoot away from it.
INT. REPUBLIC STAR DESTROYER - BRIDGE
Two clones are at a duty station on the bridge, monitoring the chase. The two are identical except for their rank insignia.
CLONE SPECIALIST
Sir, they’re launching escape pods.
The second clone, a commander, scans the escape pods one by one for life readings. He fails to scan them all.
CLONE COMMANDER
Scans are negative. They’re just jettisoning
extra weight. Stay on the ship.
INT. ESCAPE POD
Yoda watches out a small porthole as the Star Destroyer turns to follow the Wookiees. With nothing else to do, he inhales, closes his eyes and begins to meditate.